Tanya Tucker – Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)

About The Song

“Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)” is a provocative country ballad by Tanya Tucker, released in December 1973 as the lead single from her Columbia Records album of the same name. Written by David Allan Coe, it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart for one week in March 1974, Tucker’s third chart-topper at age 15, and peaked at No. 46 on the Billboard Hot 100. The 2:49 track, with its bold, poetic plea—“Would you lay with me in a field of stone / If my needs were strong, would you lay with me”—explores mature themes of love, devotion, and mortality, sung from a woman’s perspective. Tucker’s husky, emotive vocals deliver it with a haunting maturity, as Rolling Stone noted: “She’s a teenager singing with a woman’s soul.” Tucker told CMT in 2020, “David’s song was deep, almost too heavy for me then, but I felt its truth and just let it rip.” Its suggestive lyrics stirred mild controversy in 1974, pushing country’s boundaries, yet its artistry earned praise.

Recorded in October 1973 at Columbia Recording Studio in Nashville, the track was produced by Billy Sherrill, with uncredited Nashville A-Team players likely including Pete Drake on steel guitar, Hargus “Pig” Robbins on piano, and The Jordanaires on backing vocals, per Discogs. Sherrill’s lush production, with swelling strings and a slow, deliberate rhythm, amplifies the song’s emotional weight, as AllMusic describes: “It’s a daring, cinematic ballad that Tucker owns completely.” The album hit No. 4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and No. 104 on the Billboard 200. The C-G-Am chord progression and “would you lay with me” refrain, per Chordify, gave it a hypnotic quality, making it a radio and jukebox favorite. A 2019 live version from While I’m Livin’ tour performances, backed by Brandi Carlile’s band, reaffirmed its timelessness, per YouTube.

Tanya Tucker, born October 10, 1958, in Seminole, Texas, was a child prodigy whose early hits like “Delta Dawn” (1972) and “What’s Your Mama’s Name” (1973) made her a country sensation. Mentored by Sherrill, she brought a raw edge to the genre, blending honky-tonk with pop crossover appeal. Wikipedia highlights her 2019 Grammy wins for While I’m Livin’ and her 2023 Country Music Hall of Fame induction. “Would You Lay with Me” was a live staple, performed at her 1974 Grand Ole Opry shows and a 2020 Ryman Auditorium concert, with a YouTube clip showcasing her commanding presence. Covers include David Allan Coe’s 1973 original, Johnny Cash (1974), and Willie Nelson (1982), per SecondHandSongs. Reddit fans on r/country call it “a gut-wrenching masterpiece,” marveling at Tucker’s youthful depth.

The song appeared in no major films but thrives on Spotify and Amazon Music, with Shazam users tagging its evocative melody. Its bold lyrics drew some 1974 radio pushback for a teen singer, as No Depression notes: “It was risqué, but Tanya’s conviction silenced critics.” Tucker’s fearless delivery and the song’s poetic power make it a country landmark, proving her ability to tackle complex emotions with unmatched grit and grace.

Video

Lyric

Would you lay with me in a field of stone
If my needs were strong, would you lay with me
Should my lips grow dry, would you wet them, dear
In the midnight hour, if my lips were dry

Would you go away to another land
Walk a thousand miles through the burning sand
Wipe the blood away from my dying hand
If I give myself to you

Will you bathe with me in the stream of life
When the moon is full, will you bathe with me
Will you still love me when I’m down and out
In my time of trial, will you stand by me

Would you go away to another land
Walk a thousand miles through the burning sand
Wipe the blood away from my dying hand
If I give myself to you

Would you lay with me in a field of stone
If my needs were strong, would you lay with me